The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-05-19
Killed in q Street Duel.

JACKSON, MISS, May Ga desperate
pistol fight took place last night between
Col. Jones S. Hamilton, State Senator
from this county for the past four years,
and one of the lessees of the penitentiery
end R. D. Gambrell, editor of the S,uord
and Shield, the State Prohibition organ.
About year ago young Ganbrell, who
is the son of a prominent Baptist minis
ter residing here and the editor OF the
State Baptist organ, began the publica-
ton of the Sword and Shield, and has ever
since, in very strong language, made war
on Governor Lowery and the State Ad.
ministralion, and Congressman CatchiDgs
for his action in penitentiary matters
when he was attorney general of the
State, and has been especially bitter on
Col. Hamilton, criticising in unmeasurcd
terms his action in the State Senate and
as lessee of the penstentiary.
On April 81 there appeared in the
Clarion q call signed over nom deplunle
urging that Col. Hamilton stand for re-.
election. Two days later Gambrell's
paper came out with an article saying,
in substance, that the people did not
want man to represent them in the Sen.
ate who disregarded the interests of the
people, and whose sole purpose in the
Senate was to look after his own corrupt
jobs. 1t charged that, as lessee of the
penitentiary, he was seeking M to defraud
the State out of $80,000 through a loop.
hole in his bond, and wound up by say.
ing that the man elected must also have
q high personal character.
Since the publication Of this article
trouble has. been anticipated, and it
came last pight. Gambrell was walking
up the street, and just as he was crossing
the iron bridge spanning Capitol street
Col. Hamilton's carriage overlook him
and shooting began. 1t is claimed by
Hamilton's friends that .Gambrell fired
tie first shot, and, that Col. Hamil.
ton then jumped out of the carriage and
the duel with pistols began on the bridge.
This theory is denied by Gambrells
friends, who claim that Gambrell was
oyertaken and the assault made on him,
and that more persons than Hamilton
shot.
Gambrel was found in pool of blood,
easping, and soon expired. He was shot
through the knee and through the bod
the latter ball entering just below tb e
navel and going clear though him, frac.
turing the backbone and lodging just
under the skin of his back. The third
shot went in an inch below the left ear,
and ranged upward, but did not reach the
brain. His face was also frightfully dis.
figured, having been beaten and gashetl
by being struck with heavy pistol.
Col. Hamilton was the only person
found on the bridge when the oticerl
arrived. he also was frightfuly wound"
ed. His left arm was shattered at the
elbow. He was also shot in the stomach.
This ball has not been probed for, and the
doctors are in doubtas to its course. He
is resting easy, but has little fever this
evening, and the result with him cannot
be foretold.
A coroner's jury began an investigation
into the cause of Gambrell's death last
night and have not finished their labors
yet. The testimony so far is conflicting.
The three bullets have been extracted
from Gambrell's body, and are said to
have been fred from Al .calibre Colts
revolver. The bridge where the battle
took place is smeared with blood and
aplintered in many places by bullets.
The top of Col. Hamilton's carriage also
has bullet marks. The affair has caused
much excitement. Throngs Of people
have viewed the body of Gambrell to day.
It will not be buried until his father and
mother, who are absert in Louisville,
attending the Southern Baptist Conven.
ton, can get here.
Gambrell was unmarried, and about %
years old. Col. Hamilton is over so and
has large family.